The talking machine world (Jan-June 1928)

114 The Talking Machine World, New York, June, 1928 Twin Cities Dealers Enthuse Over New Columbia-Kolster Columbia Dealers in St. Paul and Minneapolis Happy Over Announcement of Paul Whiteman Signing With Columbia Co. — Portables Lead in Sales St. Paul and Minneapolis, June 5. — An animated crowd issuing from the Kern O'Neill Co. gave assurance that the new model Columbia-Kolster was something to write home about. The first sample arrived during the week of May 20 and has already aroused the greatest interest. The Northwest dealers who came to view the new machine stayed to express their enthusiasm over the addition of Paul Whiteman to Columbia artists. The new portable cannot be kept in stock so great is the demand. Opens Phonograph Department The Boston Music Co., of Duluth, which has been an exclusive piano dealer for some years, has re-entered the phonograph field and is handling Columbia only. The Murphy Music House, of St. Cloud, is featuring the ColumbiaKolster in some intensive advertising. R. C. Coleman, manager of the radio division of the George C. Beckwith Co., Victor distributor, has just returned from the Crosley distributors' convention in Cincinnati, complete details of which appear elsewhere in this issue. The Beckwith Co. is also anticipating the early shipment of the new line of Amrad electric receivers which is called the Symphony Series. This company was announced as exclusive Crosley distributor in Milwaukee. G. K. Purdy, manager of the Wisconsin territory, announces many new Crosley accounts. The Beckwith branch at Aberdeen, South Dakota, has been opened with George Metzger as manager. The new Victor portable 2-55 is wonderfully popular, and the coin-operated Automatic Orthophonic continues to be a leading seller. W. C. Hutchings a Visitor W. C. Hutchings, assistant general sales manager of the Brunswick Co., was in Minneapolis May 20, calling on old friends and checking the year's business. May far exceeded April, with phonographs, records and the new portable all holding their own. A number of Brunswick artists are in the Twin Cities at present which considerably augments record sales. The Belmont Corp., Sonora distributor, cele brated its first anniversary with a little circular to dealers offering some special values. The first year has been very satisfactory, and George Michel, president and sales manager, feels that the company has made many friends. He feels that Sonora is established and the policies of the firm approved by the trade. Among the many excellent accounts opened are the Emporium, Peyer Music Co., Howard Farwell and Lehnert Piano Co., of St. Paul, and Dayton's, Donaldson, Cable Piano Company, Boutell Furniture and the New England Co. and Foster & Waldo, Minneapolis. Majestic Radio a Sensation The Majestic radio has created a sensation in the Northwest, and although substantial shipments have been received they were sent right out to the dealers. Up to the nineteenth of May the firm had signed fifty-two of the largest dealers in the territory, which includes Minnesota and North Dakota. Special displays were made from May 1 to 5, when the Roycraft Co., Majestic distributor, took an apartment on Oak Grove street to properly present the Majestic away from the noises of downtown. The most unreserved enthusiasm was expressed by all present, and fetters continue to tell of the approval of dealers and public. Among the dealers signed are Foster & Waldo, of Minneapolis; Miles Music Co., Duluth; R. N. Cardoza, St. Paul, and Popular Music Co., Grand Forks. A display room has been opened at Fargo, North Dakota, with Rose Opie in charge. M. L. McGinnis has moved his headquarters to a beautiful new store several doors from his former space at 34 South Eighth street. He has double frontage and the store runs back in the neighborhood of sixty feet. Raytheon Interested in Television Tubes Cambridge, Mass., June 1. — The Raytheon Mfg. Co., with its long and extensive experience in gaseous conduction and allied art, is following the development of television technique with keen interest. Because of unexcelled laboratory facilities closely coupled with a factory devoted to the production of intricate tubes of all kinds, the organization is prepared to meet whatever demands may develop in the future for experimental television tubes. Sol Bloom Protects American Interests New York Representative Proves Ideal Selection as United States Representative at Copyright Conference in Rome Representative Sol Bloom, of New York City, who has been acting for the United States at the International Copyright Conference in Rome, Italy, which is working for the drafting of a uniform copyright law, to be submitted for ratification to all the parliaments of the world, has proven an ideal man for the post because of his broad knowledge of the situation. Mr. Bloom has been specially earnest in insisting that in placing under the protection of the copyright law any works hitherto considered public property in the United States, this protection and the payment of royalties that might result therefrom should in no case be made retroactive. This provision Mr. Bloom advocated in order to protect Americans, who make phonograph records, piano rolls and the like, and who would be hard hit if suddenly called upon to pay royalties on works which hitherto had been considered public property. The American representative also differed with the European delegates on the question of broadcasting rights. Most of the Europeans considered that broadcasting did not constitute "public performance for profit," but Mr. Bloom went on record as opposed to this view, citing the fact that in the United States broadcasting companies are called upon to pay royalties on copyrighted works included in their programs. The object of the conference in Rome appears to be primarily for the purpose of drafting an International Copyright Bill to which the United States will subscribe, this country having refused in the past to join the International Copyright Union or to be bound by the agreements of that Union for the reason that a number of these agreements have been contrary to the provisions of the U. S. Copyright Law. The bone of contention will probably be the question of recognizing "automatic copyright," which means that as soon as the author, writer or musician sets down his thoughts on paper they are automatically copyrighted without the necessity of further formality. It is believed that a compromise will be reached whereby although the principle of automatic copyright may be established it need not be binding on those countries that demand certain formalities before a copyright can be obtained. Handle Operadio Speaker Sales Throughout Australia The Operadio Manufacturing Co., manufacturer of bloc-type speakers and power amplifiers, has added another foreign representative to its list of distributors in the Eastern hemisphere. The New System Telephone Pty., Ltd., 280 Castlereagh street, Sydney, will handle the sales of Operadio speakers in Australia. DeForest Increases Capital The DeForest Radio Co., of Jersey City, N. J., has filed notice in Delaware of an increase in the capital stock of the company from 250,000 to 1,700,000 shares of no par value. It was recently announced that controlling interest in the DeForest Radio Co. has been acquired by W. H. Reynolds, president of the Reynolds Spring Co., Jackson, Mich. IMPRESSIVE SIMPLICITY in ASTON Design is nowhere better exemplified than in the cabinet shown here — 5-Ply walnut throughout; face of matched butt walnut, 100% figure. Curly maple top border. Front doors inset with ornamental pulls. Interior grille polychromed. Write for catalog, showing a pleasing variety of beautiful designs. ASTON CABINET MANUFACTURERS Distinctive originality in design of High Grade Radio Cabinets 1223-1229 W. LAKE ST., CHICAGO, ILL.